We recently attended a networking event as part of a project to increase and diversify participation in folk singing in England. The event, hosted by the University of Sheffield’s Access Folk project, was a valuable knowledge exchange that brought together people from...
News
Your chance to shine a light at Okehampton Lanterns
15 Jan
If you’d like to be part of the Okehampton Lanterns procession, then come along to our coffee morning on Saturday 27 January, when you can learn all about the event. The coffee morning, at Charter Hall in Market Street at 10am, will also have entertainment from...
Okehampton Musical Warm Bank set to help families save on their heating bills
12 Dec
We’re delighted to announce the launch of the Okehampton Musical Warm Bank and are throwing open our doors to offer a warm space to local people this winter. The warm bank is open several afternoons a week from 2.30pm to 6pm at Wren Music’s premises at Ebenezer Hall...
From Devon to Latvia – a sharing of living traditions
16 Nov
We were honoured to be invited to Latvia this autumn to be part of a three-day folk festival celebrating the folk tradition. The festival, Dzīvā Mūzika, is hosted by the Skaņumāja folk organisation, who Wren Music have had an association with for many years. Over the...
The folk carols of West Devon
14 Nov
They were once sung out in the streets and on the farms around the remote towns and villages of West Devon and now, the ‘West Devon Carols’ are being revived by Wren Music so that they can be heard again. The West Devon Carols are distinct to the district and became...
A triumphant Apple Day in Okehampton
27 Oct
On Thursday 26 October Amy and Jon hosted an afternoon of free activities to celebrate Apple Day 2023. Despite the forecast of heavy rain, the event was well attended by families who were keen to get stuck in to the different songs, games and tasks. We began with the...
New Street Band is launched for Okehampton
13 Sep
Okehampton Lanterns is back for 2024 – and we’re excited to announce that the procession will be led by our brand new Street Band. Book your place here After a break this year, Okehampton Lanterns makes a welcome return to the town in February, following generous...
New: Sing & Play group for young families
6 Sep
We are delighted to launch our new Sing & Play group for under-5s and their adults later this month, with the first weekly session on Friday 22 September, 10am -11.30am. Sing & Play is led by one of our professional singers and musicians, Paul Wilson,...
Okehampton Folk Trail tells the town’s ‘hidden’ history
1 Sep
One of our most ambitious projects for 2023 hits the streets on Friday 22 September, when the Okehampton Folk Trail is launched. The 1.5-mile town trail is officially opened at 7pm that evening, and we are inviting local people to come along and walk the route with...
Bringing music and memories to residential homes
23 Aug
Throughout our 40 years, we’ve been delighted to bring song and conversation into residential homes across Devon. Our latest visit – to River’s Edge Retirement Apartments in Okehampton – had residents joining in with some of the songs, discussing local folklore, and...
Add your voice to MenSing
16 Aug
When we launched MenSing in 2015, we did so because we knew there was demand in Devon for men who wanted to sing folk songs together in a group - but didn’t fancy joining a shanty crew. We currently have 20 members, and we are seeking more singers to join us. The...
Wren Music groups wow Sidmouth Folk Festival
11 Aug
Sidmouth Folk Festival is renowned as one of the most iconic events on the UK’s folk music calendar, so we were delighted that Wren Music were invited to be part of it. Five of our groups performed in Sidmouth during this summer’s festival – MenSing, the Folk...